Order List for June 26, 2009

In a very busy order list this morning, the Texas Supreme Court issued opinions in nine of its pending cases. Because of the volume of case summaries, I’m going to post them separately.

The Court also granted four more petitions to be argued next term, including a hot-button case about recent fights over the Houston City Charter. (( Two of the petitions the Court granted today had previously been denied by the Court and were reinstated today after successful motions for rehearing. ))

Petitions Granted

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas v. The Estate of Irene Esther Arancibia, No. 08-0215 (DocketDB). A Tort Claims Act case asking whether a change the Legislature made to the scope of sovereign immunity was retroactive and also about whether this suit was barred for failure to satisfy the conditions of §101.106. (Rehearing granted)

University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio v. Kia Bailey and Larry Bailey, No. 08-0419 (DocketDB). A case about how the statute of limitations and the “relation-back” doctrine apply to health-care liability claims against government hospitals.

Carroll G. Robinson, Bruce R. Hotze and Jeffrey N. Daily v. Bill White, Mayor; City of Houston, Houston City Council; et al., No. 08-0658 (DocketDB). A case by citizens of Houston challenging how the city’s elected officials chose to incorporate two ballot propositions (“Prop 1” and “Prop 2” from 2004, which together limit city taxation and spending) into the city charter.